The Brian Lehrer Show New Year's Resolutions That Actually Stick
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Jan 6, 2026 
Suleika Jaouad, a celebrated author and journalist known for her inspiring memoir on overcoming cancer, shares insights on why New Year's resolutions often fail. She advocates for small, meaningful rituals that lead to gradual change, rather than daunting goals. Listeners join in, discussing their own sustainable practices like daily journaling and personal themes for the year. A therapist highlights the value of intentions over rigid goals, adding depth to the conversation about self-compassion and flexibility in personal growth.
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Half Marathon Resolution Gone Wrong
- Suleika Jaouad resolved to run a half marathon while recovering from a bone marrow transplant and posted a triumphant photo before even completing a timed run.
- The attempt caused a stress fracture and deepened her sense of failure, prompting her to reconsider spectacle-driven resolutions.
Why Rituals Trump Resolutions
- Resolutions focus on outcomes, demand willpower, and create a binary success/failure story that often collapses.
- Rituals are process-oriented, small, and create conditions that make gradual change possible.
Choose A Theme, Not A Demand
- Use a yearly theme or gentle intention instead of strict resolutions to guide decisions without demanding rigid outputs.
- A theme absorbs inconsistency and invites repeated return rather than punishing missed steps.